And the winner is: NH theater

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Staff photo by COREY PERRINE Neil Pankhurst laughs at the irony of his mic having difficulty functioning while being awarded Best Sound Design Feb. 6 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Pankhurst was merited in the professional level for his work on Around the World in 80 Days with the Winnipesaukee Playhouse. Hundreds came out to celebrate the 8th Annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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Staff photo by COREY PERRINE Audience members sit on the mezzanine section Feb. 6 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Hundreds came out to celebrate the 8th Annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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Staff photo by COREY PERRINE Award holder Katherine Proulx of Manchester hands over the envelope before announcing Best Choreographer Feb. 6 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Hundreds came out to celebrate the 8th Annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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Staff photo by COREY PERRINE A little set back from winning Best Costume Design at the community theatre level, Mary Selvoski, acknowledges the crowd for the win Feb. 6 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Selvoski was awarded for her efforts on the musical "Anything Goes" with the Actorsingers. Hundreds came out to celebrate the 8th Annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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Staff photo by COREY PERRINE Cast members from the musical Swing! perform inbetween announcing winners Feb. 6 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Hundreds came out to celebrate the 8th Annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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Staff photo by COREY PERRINE Neil Pankhurst laughs at the irony of his mic having difficulty functioning while being awarded Best Sound Design Feb. 6 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Pankhurst was merited in the professional level for his work on Around the World in 80 Days with the Winnipesaukee Playhouse. Hundreds came out to celebrate the 8th Annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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IF YOU GO

Encore Superstar first preliminary competition

WHERE: Fody’s Great American Tavern, 9 Clinton St., Nashua.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16. Registration for singers starts at 7 p.m.

COST: Free to attend. $5 registration fee to compete.

Encore Superstar Milford competition

WHERE: Pasta Loft, 241 Union Square, Milford

WHEN: Tuesday, March 9

MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.encorebuzz.com/ superstar.

MANCHESTER – There was only one thing that was a drag at the New Hampshire Theatre Awards on Friday, Feb. 5: Alan Hunter.

But that’s only because he was actually in drag.

Hunter wore his full Mary Sunshine regalia to reprise his role from Best Foot Forward’s nominated production of “Chicago,” one of the many shows vying for the Granite State-shaped awards given out at the eighth annual celebration of community and professional theater held at the Palace Theater.

Mark Woollett, acting artistic director for the group Advice to the Players, may have coined the trophy’s new nickname upon receiving his company’s General Excellence Award, calling it “the Hammy.”

It wouldn’t be the awards show without George Piehl’s larger-than-life energy at the helm. From introducing himself for the opening number – “a man who, for 30 years, has managed to not get a real job!” – Piehl was the master of ceremonies and provided sassy commentary. He was feted with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“It’s a joy to be able to do what I do in this place, and to be recognized for the years I have put in is just wonderful,” Piehl said. “I owe it all to my wife.”

From the opening rousing rendition of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” by the Joel Mercier-led orchestra, the ceremony was peppered with musical performances from the nominated groups and shows.

StageCoach Productions started it off with the hilarity and perfect five-part harmonies of “The Altar Boyz.” The Palace Theater kicked it up with a high-energy swing-dance routine to “Jump, Jive ’n Wail.” The cast of Best Foot Forward’s “Chicago” routine should’ve been presented with a special “Best Legs” award.

After the Educational Theatre Collaborative brought a cacophony of color to the stage with its offering from “Godspell,” the Peacock Players gave a stripped-down rendition – literally, in the case of singer Tony Clement, who delivered his powerful, pitch-perfect vocals bare-chested – of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

There was no such luck with the selection from the Community Players of Concord, who did a fun scene from “The Full Monty” – just not that scene. Majestic Theatre presented a medley from “Aida.”

There were also non- musical performances. Advice to the Players demonstrated swordplay in a battle scene from “Henry V.” Cathy McKay performed a dramatic scene as Golda Meir from Second Stage’s “Golda’s Balcony,” moments before winning the award for Best Actress in a Musical for Manchester Community Theatre Players’ presentation of “The King and I.”

The production team of NHTA put together video montages of actors who have gone on to work professionally, and those who died last year – the latter being accompanied by a quartet singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Part of that quartet was Ron Bourque, who appeared on the Palace stage many times that evening: performing that song, then with “The Full Monty” and then with the Actorsingers’ “Anything Goes” musical number – immediately after which, he won the award for Best Actor in a Musical for that show.

Indeed, the night belonged to the Actorsingers of Nashua, now in their 55th year. The organization swept the awards with last November’s production of “Anything Goes,” snagging eight trophies.

Husband-and-wife team Jared Holland and Martha Daniels Holland won for Best Musical Director and Choreographer respectively.

“We’re still tied, honey!” Jared Holland joked at the podium.

Laura Prior beamed as she accepted the Best Supporting Actress award, noting with a bit of disbelief, “not bad for my first New Hampshire performance.”

The cast delivered a floor-pounding tap routine to open Act 2 of the award ceremony.

The professional categories were dominated by Weathervane Theatre out of Whitefield with seven wins, and the Peterborough Players, who scored five awards for their “Heartbreak House.”

Sure, the Granite State’s plethora of superlative actors and theater technicians don’t do what they do for the glitz, glamour and acknowledgement they experience at the New Hampshire Theater Awards.

But it certainly doesn’t hurt.